‘Ghostbusters’ Star Harold Ramis Dies at Age 69

'Ghostbusters' star and 'Groundhog Day' director Harold Ramis has died. He was 69.

The actor, writer and director, who got his start with the cult TV show 'Second City Television (SCTV)' back in the mid '70s, passed away earlier today from complications of autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis, a rare disease that involves swelling of the blood vessels.

During his three-year run on 'SCTV,' Ramis co-wrote 'Animal House.' Over the next several years, Ramis had a hand in the screenplays of some of the era's greatest comedies, including 'Stripes' and 'Ghostbusters,' in which he also starred.

In 1980, he directed his first feature 'Caddyshack,' another comedy classic from the period starring one of his old pals (in this case, Bill Murray; 'Animal House' made a star of John Belushi). He also directed 'National Lampoon's Vacation,' his masterpiece 'Groundhog Day' and 'Analyze This,' among other movies.

As a writer, he contributed to everything from a 'Ghostbusters' videogame to animated TV shows. Most recently, he directed a handful of episodes of the U.S. version of 'The Office.'